Predeparture Atlanta AYA 2012

Accreditations and Memberships

The EF International Lan-guage Centers in London,

Cambridge, Brighton, Oxford, Manchester, Bristol

and Bournemouth are:

EF Dublin is accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers

in the USA are members of:

The EF Internation-al Language Cent-

ers in the USA are accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers in

Sydney, Brisbane and Perth are accredited by:

EF Nice is recognized with the Label Qual-ité Français Langue

Etrangère.

EF Vancouver and Toronto are accredited by Languages Canada.

All EF Courses are certified by Southern

New Hampshire University.

EF Education is an active participant in

the Comité Européen de Normalisation.

The EF International Language Centers

in Brisbane and Perth are mem-

bers of:

The EF International Language Centers in

Cambridge, München, Cape Town and Nice are

accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers in London, Cambridge,

Brighton, Oxford, Manchester and Bourne-mouth are members of:

All EF Courses are recog-nized by Hult International

Business School.

Federation of International Youth

Travel Organizations.

Academic Year AbroadFor adults and Students aged 16 & above

EF International Language Centers

www.ef.com

Buckhead

Brookhaven

Kingswood

West End

Sandy Springs

East Atlanta Village

Virginia-Highland Decatur

Centennial Park Area

Georgia TechJimmy Carter Library & Museum

CNN Center

Atlanta CycloramaTurner Field

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site

Atlanta University

Emory University

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Atlanta Ballet Atlanta Opera

Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia

The Miami Circle

Oglethorpe University

Chastain Park

Atlanta History Center

Dekalb-Peachtree Airport

Mercer University in Atlanta

Chattahoochee River

EF Atlanta

ATLANTA65x65mm

Important Note: Factual information contained in this document is subject to change.

AtlantaDiscover America’s South in Atlanta – home

of the Atlanta Braves baseball team, Coca-

Cola headquarters and the world famous CNN

Broadcasting. Let EF welcome you with all the

Southern Hospitality you would expect at our

beautiful school located on the Oglethorpe

University campus!Contact details:4484 Peachtree rd. NEAtlanta, GA 30319Tel: +1 404 563 6012

Section ...... Topic

1 ............Introduction to EF

2 ............Welcome to the US

3 ............Weather watch

4 ............Travel & transfer service

5 ............School information

6 ............Academics

7 ............Accommodation & meals

8 ............Money matters

9. ............Phones, faxes & Internet

10 ..........Health care & insurance

11 ..........School activities & excursions

12 ...........Transportation

13 ..........Expectations

14 ..........US culture & living tips

15 ..........Adjusting to a new culture

16 ..........EF school calendar & holidays

17 ..........Checklist

Contents - Atlanta

Dear Student

Thank you for choosing EF International Language

Center, Atlanta! The staff is looking forward to meeting

you and helping you get settled into your new home

away from home. EF Atlanta is a true Southern experi-

ence and we know you will enjoy everything Southern

Hospitality has to offer. While you are here be sure to

get a taste of some real Southern cooking – who does

not like good fried chicken? – check out the CNN

and Coca-Cola headquarters and, of course, take

advantage of all the Oglethorpe campus has to offer. EF

Atlanta students get to share in all the university facili-

ties and with the warm weather year round there is no

end to the fun that can be had on and off campus.

EF Atlanta is new to the EF International Language

Centers family and the small staff and school offer a

wonderfully intimate and relaxing environment for both

studying and having fun. We cannot wait to show you

around and welcome you to the United States!

See y’all soon!

The EF Atlanta Staff

3 Atlanta, USA

2. Welcome to Atlanta, GA, USAThe city of Atlanta, which hosted the 1996

Summer Olympics and has the busiest

airport in the world – Hartsfield Jackson – is

the perfect place to get a taste of America’s

true South. Atlanta which is very spread out,

is home to approximately 430,000 people.

Most people live in the suburbs of the city and

commute downtown for work. Downtown, or

Five Points as it is locally known, is the hub

for locals and tourists alike since it is home to

some of Atlanta’s most popular businesses

and tourist sites. If you want to check out

CNN, Coca-Cola, the Olympic park or even the

Aquarium, head straight to Five Points!

There is a lot more to Atlanta than Five Points

though and, lucky for EF Atlanta students, you

can see most of the city very easily using their

subway system, MARTA. Check out the up-

scale malls and neighborhood of Buckhead, or

head to Midtown for some boutique shopping

and more local flare.

Want to learn a little history? Take MARTA to

the Martin Luther King. Jr. Memorial site where

you can get a tour of his neighborhood and

learn all about this important time in America’s

history. And of course while you are in town you

should stop and get a burger at Varsity – this

local place has been around since 1928 and

recently even served a burger to President

Obama when he was in town. Of course, you

do not need to figure this out on your own, our

Activities staff is ready to take you around town

and since they are all from Atlanta, they know

the inside scoop!

Although a very multicultural city these days,

Atlanta is steeped in Southern Tradition and

has been called both the ‘center of gravity’ for

hip hop music, as well as the center for Gospel

music. Home of the band Outkast and the folk

group the Indigo Girls, the choices to see live

music are great. And if music is not your thing,

there are also museums to see and Stone

Mountain Park to explore.

3. Weather WatchLocated in the South, Atlanta enjoys mild

temperatures all year round. The summers can

be very hot and humid, while the winters rarely

ever see snow (maybe once every other year).

All the buildings on campus are air conditioned

and you will find when you are in most places

the AC is pumping so hard you will need a light

sweater to stay comfortable. Dressing in layers

is very important!

4. Travel & transfer serviceTransfer service

Although Hartsfield Jackson is building a new

international terminal and is located right on

MARTA, arriving in a new city after many hours

of travel can be overwhelming. EF Atlanta offers

a transfer service for pick up at the airport for an

additional cost. We recommend taking advan-

tage of this service.

Approximately one month before your arrival,

please notify your local EF office of your travel

plans and speak with them about the transfer

service so we can be sure someone is waiting for

you when you arrive. Please note that Atlanta can

have some significant traffic and if you choose

not to use our transfer service, we will not be

able to reimburse you for a taxi.

If you choose to arrive on campus on your own,

there is a MARTA station in the airport. Follow the

signs from Baggage Claim to MARTA and you

will need to purchase a ticket from the machines

just outside the station gates. A one way ride is

only 2.50 USD, but we recommend you buy a

Breeze card for 1 USD and load it up for future

travel on MARTA. There is only one train that

leaves from the Airport and this will take you all

the way to Oglethorpe, which is the name of

the stop. Expect the train to take about 30-40

minutes. The school is a 15 min walk from the

station or if you have a lot of luggage, a taxi ride

would be fast and very, very cheap!

1. Introduction to EFEF Education First welcomes students of all ages from every corner of the world to learn a language where it is natively spoken. Our innovative curriculum, the EF Efekta™ System, integrates face-to-face learning in a classroom with studying outside the classroom using the interactive learn-ing tools in our online iLab. An intensively structured academic program along with an array of educational and social activi-ties results in a fast and fun way to learn a language.

EF students come from diverse back-grounds and like you, they have chosen a program to enhance their language skills as part of their academic or career plan. Many have planned for years to take advantage of this opportunity.

A large percentage of EF students apply their new language skills by taking a recog-nized exam, such as Cambridge, TOEFL, TOEIC and IELTS. Successful completion of such exams provides the necessary language qualifications for university and for professional endeavors. Many students view their time with EF as a chance to explore educational alternatives while im-proving language and study skills. Students wishing to study at university can access information and make informed academic choices through our EF University Place-ment Service.

A great aspect of an EF program is the variety of nationalities at our schools. We welcome you to join this international com-munity where you’ll experience life and language with EF. We take great pride in our continuing dedication to our mission - breaking down barriers of language and culture.

4 Atlanta, USA

If you have any problems at the airport, please

do not hesitate to call the emergency line and an

EF staff member will be able to help you:

+1 404-563-6012

5. School InformationEF Atlanta is located on the Oglethorpe

University campus and in addition to the great

EF staff and facilities, EF Atlanta students can

take advantage and almost everything the

campus has to offer! Check out the activities

calendar or speak with RA to find out about all

the fun things happening around Atlanta while

you are in town. You should also check out our

Facebook page if you have not already - http://

www.facebook.com/EFAtlanta.

6. AcademicsEF language courses give students the opportu-

nity to study the English language and the local

culture for as long, and with as much intensity,

as suits the student and his or her needs.

EF Level Placement Test

Within 24-hours after booking your course,

you’ll receive your personalized EF username

and password for the online EF campus called

My EF. Before traveling, you will take the EF

Level Placement test online. This test will mea-

sure your language level and ability, grammar

and listening comprehension abilities. Using

your test results, our academic team will place

you in one of six different language levels.

As your English language skills become stron-

ger, you will be promoted into the next lan-

guage level. You may speak with your teacher

if you feel you have been placed into the wrong

level. Please note: you may have both morning

and afternoon classes depending on the time

of year and course type.

Orientation

When you arrive at the school you will take

the EF Level Placement test, if you have not

done so already. During your orientation you

will receive your class schedule and other

important information about the school and

the city. Fun activities are planned to help you

meet students and staff.

General English Classes

General English classes focus on the develop-

ment of the four skills of speaking, listening,

reading and writing. They also include work on

grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

Special Interest Classes

Depending on your course type you may also

select a number of special interest (SPIN)

classes. SPINs allow you to improve your

English through the study of a wide range of

subject options. Admission to some of these

will depend on academic and linguistic level

and availability of places. The selection of SPIN

classes varies throughout the year and a stu-

dent may not be able to repeat the same SPIN

class. Each lesson is 40 minutes in length.

Class size

The average class size is 15 students with a

maximum of 17 students.

Attendance

You are expected to attend all classes.

Consistent failure to attend class, for what-

ever reason, may result in expulsion from the

program with no refund of course fees. It is

important to note that in order to be eligible

for an EF certificate, students are expected to

participate in class and must attend at least

80% of all classes

US immigration regulations require you to at-

tend 80% of all your classes. EF is required to

report students who fail to maintain this 80%

average to US Immigration Authorities. Conse-

quently, students with low attendance may be

asked to leave the program and return to their

home country.

Homework

You are expected to complete all assignments

set by your teachers in General English and

Special Interest classes. If you are taking an

examination preparation class you should ex-

pect at least one hour of homework per night.

Assessment

You will be assessed at regular intervals

throughout the course. Assessment is based

on attendance, participation, attitude and

performance.

Course books

As part of your academic program, you’ll be

expected to buy the books and classroom

materials that you will use in class. The exact

number of books that you’ll need is determined

by your academic level, progress and choice of

special interest classes. If you wish to buy ad-

ditional books you may need more money. The

books you buy are yours to keep, write in and

take home with you for future reference.

iLab Learning

All English language school courses include

six iLab sessions per week. iLab sessions

complement and reinforce classroom learning

in an interactive online learning environment.

Please note: iLab is not included in the EF

Basic Course.

EF University Placement Service

EF International Language Centers offer a Uni-

versity Placement Service (UPS) that provides

guaranteed admission into a university or col-

lege for qualified students. If you are interested

in continuing your studies, you are encouraged

to talk with the University Pathways Manager

at your school.

University Transfer Credit

Through our partnership with Southern New

Hampshire University (SNHU), EF students

may be eligible to receive university credit for

their coursework.

7. Accommodation & MealsEF has its own dorm on the Oglethorpe

campus – Schmidt Hall. We will always do our

best to room you with a student of another na-

tionality and language. Our lead RA is always

there to help with any issues on campus and

there is always someone on duty in case of an

emergency.

Meals are included when you live in Schmidt

and the cafeteria is located in the Emerson

Student Center. With your EF identification you

will be allowed to enter the cafeteria during

meal times and partake in the all you can eat

buffet. Our food services staff does its best

to cater to everyone’s needs, but please let

us know if you have any food restrictions or

allergies. Vegetarian options are available at

every meal.

Homestay

Students staying in a homestay will have the

opportunity to experience American life and also

5 Atlanta, USA

have the chance to practice their new language

skills with fluent English speakers. Students who

choose homestay accommodation should do so

because they want to live in a family environment

and interact with the family members. Families

choose to host international students because

they want to learn about other cultures and

people. Students who live in a homestay must

respect the family and their home. Likewise, the

family will respect the student. As you get an in-

depth look at American life, you will realize that

American culture is not the same as your culture,

and therefore, family life may be quite different.

The relationship between husband and wife, the

roles of family members, the relationship with or

discipline of children and the relationship with

pets are just some examples. If you are open-

minded about these differences, life in the family

will be a great learning experience.

There is no stereotypical family. Host families

may consist of 1) mother and father without

children, 2) single mother with children, 3)

mother, father and children, 4) retired couple,

5) widowed woman, or 6) single father with

children. America is called “the great melting

pot”, and families are of many different back-

grounds. Some of our host families have emi-

grated or are first-generation Americans. They

will be able to speak English fluently and will

speak English with their student, but they may

be able to speak another language as well.

Unless you have paid the single supplement

and a single placement has been confirmed to

you by EF, you will be placed in a double room

with another student. You are responsible for

all transportation costs to and from the host’s

home. You may be placed up to one hour away

from the school. At the homestay, all long dis-

tance calls should be made using a calling card.

The host will provide bed linens and towels. You

will need to provide your own personal toiletries

(shampoo, soap, toothpaste, tissues, etc.) You

will be responsible for keeping your room clean,

doing your own laundry, and completing light

housework as a member of the household.

EF carefully chooses appropriate homestays

for its students and requires a long-term com-

mitment from hosts. Therefore, changing hosts

is considered a very serious matter and will

only be considered by the Housing Coordina-

tor as a last resort.

Meals in a homestay

If you are living with a host family, your family

will provide breakfast and dinner on the week-

days and all three meals on the weekends.

Meals can be purchased on campus at a

discounted rate for homestay students.

8. Money MattersCurrency

The dollar is the basic monetary unit in the

U.S.

1 dollar = 100 cents

1 cent = $.01 “penny” (100 pennies = $1)

5 cents = $.05 “nickel” (20 nickels = $1)

10 cents = $.10 “dime” (10 dimes = $1)

25 cents = $.25 “quarter” (4 quarters = $1)

Paper currency comes in denominations (val-

ues) of $1, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. All

the paper currency is the same size and color,

so be careful when you pay!

Banking

You should open a bank account at the start of

your course. During orientation, the EF staff will

be on hand to help you open one with a local

bank. You can have a checking or savings ac-

count or both. These types of accounts allow

you to have a 24-hour ATM card.

Spending Money

We recommend that you have approximately

$200 in cash for expenses upon arrival and the

rest of your spending money in traveler’s checks.

Depending on your lifestyle, we recommend that

you take between $50 and $100 per week ex-

cluding excursions, and depending on how much

traveling, shopping and eating in restaurants you

plan to do during your visit to the Atlanta area.

You will also need to take money for learning

materials used in class and for any language

proficiency exams you plan to take.

Wiring Money

If you have a CitiBank account money can be

wired into your account. Please speak with

one of the EF staff members for help with this.

Credit Cards

We strongly recommend that students travel

with either a Visa or MasterCard. Credit cards

enable you to rent cars, reserve hotel rooms,

and do various activities, which may be more

difficult with cash or traveler’s checks.

9. Phones, faxes & InternetTelephone

All long distance calls should be made using a

calling card. We recommend that students ex-

pecting to stay for a long period of time come

with, or purchase a mobile phone.

Fax

All EF schools use fax machines to conduct

business. You can send and receive faxes from

this machine for a small fee, although you are

encouraged to limit the use. Speak with the EF

staff for more information.

Internet

Wireless internet is available free throughout

the Oglethorpe campus. There are also com-

puter labs available on campus. Please speak

with your RA about where to go and what you

need to access the internet.

6 Atlanta, USA

10. Health Care & InsuranceIf you need to see a doctor during your stay

at EF Atlanta, there is an urgent care facility

right outside the Oglethorpe gates. This facility

takes Erika insurance. Please ask the EF staff

for any help you might need.

Immunizations

EF requires that all students attending an EF

school in the United States carry proof that he

or she has been immunized against measles I

and II, polio, TBC, mumps, rubella, diphtheria

and tetanus. Please note that it is not sufficient

to have had the diseases as a child. If you do

not bring this documentation with you, you will

be required upon arrival at the school to obtain

the immunizations at an area hospital. The cost

to students is approximately $50 (this amount

is not covered by insurance).

Insurance

All students traveling to the USA are required

to have medical and accident insurance upon

starting their program of study.

All students are required to bring proof of insur-

ance in English to show that they have proper

health insurance when a medical emergency

occurs. Students who do not bring proof of in-

surance will be required to purchase insurance

through EF at the school.

Erika Travel Insurance

Because security is EF’s number one priority, we

have negotiated a comprehensive tailor-made

travel insurance package for EF students with

Erika Travel Insurance, an international insur-

ance expert. The policy protects you against ex-

penses incurred through accident or illness, and

provides coverage for loss or theft of baggage

and personal effects. It also provides coverage

against interruption of your EF program due to

illness as well as liability and legal expenses.

The EF staff is trained to assist with your Erika

Travel Insurance questions and claims. When

you are sick or injured the last thing you want

to do is deal with such issues. Let us help you!

11. Activities & ExcursionsActivity Program

The EF Activities Coordinator arranges a regu-

lar schedule of local activities, day-trips, and

weekend excursions to area attractions. The

cost of these trips is not included in the tuition.

Weekly activities

There is an ongoing program of activities on

campus - dances, movie nights, coffeehouse

nights - at either no cost or minimal cost. The

Activities Coordinator will also organize sports

games and tournaments, depending on stu-

dent interest and participation.

Weekend excursions

EF arranges weekend excursions and day trips

to local attractions. Not all trips are available

each month. The number of trips and the cost

depend on the time of year and the number of

students wishing to participate. Excursions can

be paid in cash or with traveler’s checks.

Typical Excursions

Weekend trips include trips to Savannah and

Athens. Most of these trips include transporta-

tion, breakfast and hotels. Lunch and dinner

are not always included and there is often time

when you can go shopping or eat with your

friends, so you should bring some money for

extra expenses.

Winter and spring break excursions

All schools have several trips planned for the

long-term students who have a winter and

spring break as part of their course schedule.

Possible destinations include Mexico, the

Bahamas, skiing, an East Coast trip and West

Coast trips. More information will be available

during orientation.

Sports Facilities

Oglethorpe University has a beautiful, state

of the art sports facility that includes a rock

climbing wall, cardio and weight lifting equip-

ment and indoor basketball courts. Soccer

volleyball and baseball fields are all available for

use when the university teams are not playing

and there are also tennis courts available on

campus for student use.

There is also a popular gym – LA Fitness –

located in the shopping center next door to

campus. Discounted memberships are avail-

able for long term students.

12. TransportationPublic transportation

You can get around most of Atlanta using

MARTA, Atlanta’s subway system. There is

a MARTA stop about a 15 min walk from the

Oglethorpe gates. Buses also do run regularly

down Peachtree Rd, which makes a loop

around the city.

A ride on MARTA is $2.50. For $1 you can buy

a Breeze card which can store several rides

and allows you to come and go more easily on

MARTA. At orientation, one of our RAs will take

you to MARTA and help you purchase a ticket

if you have not already.

Car rentals

Some students may choose to rent a car for

weekend trips while they are in Atlanta. You

must be 25 years old to rent a car in the US,

although some rental car companies will rent

to younger customers, for an additional fee. All

car agencies will require a valid credit card for

payment, as well as valid international driver’s

license. The cost is approximately $40/day

which includes the optional car insurance. EF

also recommends that you purchase the offered

car insurance as most students have never

driven in the US before and this can be daunt-

ing. Please note that anyone who drives the

rental car MUST be on the rental car agreement

that is signed with the rental car company. If a

driver who is not on the agreement drive the car

they will not be covered by the insurance.

13. ExpectationsExpectations are a normal part of anticipating a

new experience. Remember that many of your

expectations may have been formed by the

unreal world of TV and movies. Arrive at your

course center with an open mind!

What you can expect from EF:

z Supportive staff, available for guidance and

encouragement.

z An academic program which combines

language, special interest, and

culture-oriented classes.

z Full program of local activities and excursions

at special EF rates.

z Accommodation in either homestay or stu-

dent residence.

z All designated meals.

z EF Academic Year Abroad Diploma for

Academic Year Abroad students with 80%

7 Atlanta, USA

attendance per term and good academic

standing and academic records

z EF Course Certificate for International Lan-

guage Students with 80% attendance and

good academic standing.

z Preparation classes and/or materials for appro-

priate standardized language exams and avail-

ability of University Placement Service (UPS).

What EF expects of you:

z To develop a greater understanding of the

world around you.

z To attend at least 80% of all classes and to

do your best in class at all times.

z To be respectful of your homestay hosts,

your classmates, your teachers and your

community.

z To keep your room and shared areas clean.

z To speak English at all times.

z To abide by all laws, rules and regulations of

your host country, state, campus and school.

What you can expect from your homestay hosts:

z A comfortable, clean place to live.

z Prepared meals or accessibility to food to

prepare yourself according to the meal plan.

z Access to the school in approximately one

hour by public transportation. All transporta-

tion costs are your responsibility.

14. US Culture & living tipsFood

Because of the multi-ethnic nature of America,

you can find foods from all over the world in

Atlanta. You should take the opportunity to

taste some specialties from the South includ-

ing fried chicken, biscuits, and the unique

vegetables like collards, okra and black eyed

peas. Typical American foods like pizza, ham-

burgers and fries are also readily available.

Meals tend to get larger as the day progresses.

Breakfast is typically quite small with coffee or

tea, yogurt or cereal, eggs or pancakes. Lunch

is a little larger, but still lighter than dinner, and

usually consists of a sandwich or salad. Dinner

is the biggest meal of the day in America and

typically has at least one meat, vegetable and

a starch like potatoes or rice.

Mail

Mail service is relatively inexpensive and very

reliable in the US. There is a FedEx on campus

if you need to send something important that

might need to be tracked or arrive faster than

typical mail service. Always be sure to put your

return address on any envelope.

The normal form of address in the U.S. is:

Name

Name

Street address, Apartment number

City, State, Zip Code

If your family or friends would like to send you

mail, please be sure they address the package,

letter or postcard as follows:

YOUR NAME

EF International Language School/Robinson

Hall

4484 Peachtree Rd. NE

Atlanta, GA 30319

The RAs will pick up all the mail once a day

and let you know if you have something.

Alcohol

The legal drinking age in the US is 21 years

old. You will need to show proof of age when

purchasing alcohol at the store or any bar or

restaurant. The rules in the US are very strict

regarding underage drinking.

There is no drinking, even if you are of legal age,

in Schmidt Hall (the EF Dorm). Any alcohol found

in the dorm will be confiscated and students will

receive a disciplinary warning, even if they are

legal drinking age.

Smoking

Over the past few years, smoking has become

much less tolerated across the United States.

On the Oglethorpe campus there are desig-

nated smoking areas and students smoking

outside those areas will be asked to either

relocate to a designated smoking area or

extinguish their cigarette.

There is no smoking inside any buildings (this is

a national law) and smoking in your dorm room

will result in disciplinary action. EF recognizes

your right to smoke, but we ask kindly that you

be courteous and follow the rules of both the

school and the community you are living in.

Appliances

Electric outlets in the U.S provide a current at

117 volts, 60 cycles (Hertz). Since many other

countries operate with a voltage of 220, you

might need a transformer to operate non-Ameri-

can appliances. You might also need an adapter

to change the shape of the plug, which is either

two flat prongs or three prongs for large appli-

ances. Hairdryers and radios can be purchased

very inexpensively in the U.S. so it may be bet-

ter to buy some appliances upon arrival.

Tipping

People who work in the hospitality industry in the

U.S. rely on tips from customers more so than in

many other countries. Average tip amount:

z Restaurant servers: 15-20% of bill

z Taxi drivers: 10-15%

z Salons: 20% of bill

Sales tax

Expect to pay 5-8% sales tax on your purchas-

es (amount and the type of item taxed varies

from state to state). Remember that a certain

percentage will be added to the net total when

you purchase something from a store or when

you pay for food and beverages in restaurants.

Store hours

Store hours in the US are more liberal than in

most other countries. In general, the following

rules apply:

z Department stores and shopping malls:

8 Atlanta, USA

Monday to Saturday 10am to 9pm

Sunday 12pm to 6pm

z Supermarkets: Monday to Saturday 8am to 9pm

Sunday 9am to 7pm (some 24 hours)

z Small retail stores and grocery stores may

close every night at 6pm and may not be open

on Sunday

15. Adjusting to a New Culture The EF community is more than a group of

students who have come together to learn

English. It is also a multi-cultural group of

young adults who are eager to share their

own culture and learn the culture of their host

country and fellow classmates.

One’s culture is made up of values, beliefs, arts,

traditions and practices of a specific community

or population. Our culture affects how we view

ourselves, how we relate to others and what we

value as important in life. We are often unaware

of how much our culture affects our lives.

You may have already had some exposure to

the new culture you are about to experience.

You may have seen television shows, read

books, or studied in school about the USA.

While some parts of this culture may already

seem familiar to you, experiencing a new

culture first-hand will prove exciting. You will be

meeting students from all over the world who,

like you, are looking forward to spending a year

learning and living a language, both inside and

outside the classroom.

As a visitor to a new culture, you may experi-

ence periods of fatigue and discomfort when

you are uncomfortable. Culture shock is what

sometimes happens when we try to meet chal-

lenges of our new culture by using the values,

beliefs, and attitudes of our own culture. As

visitors to a new culture, we must learn that

cultural differences are merely different - not

right or wrong. It is a good idea to bring tradi-

tional objects from your culture to share with

other students and your host to teach them

about your country.

Tips on coping with change

Remember that change does not come with-

out some effort! We humans need a certain

amount of stress to motivate us to learn new

ways of being. Learning always involves some

form of change. You should try the following:

z While you might be tempted to surround

yourself with things that are familiar to you, try

not to isolate yourself by being only with others

from your home country. Keep reaching out to

your host, roommates and other students.

z Put off making major decisions such as an

accommodation change, until you feel more

“at home” with the culture in general.

z Talk to us about your worries or problems.

EF Staff are here to help and would prefer to

know about any problem you may have so

that we can help you. Many EF staff mem-

bers have studied or lived abroad, so they

understand what it’s like to adjust to life in a

foreign country!

z Set goals, no matter how big or small, and

accomplish them! You will feel good about

yourself in doing so, and you will reduce the

negative feelings associated with culture

shock. For example, set a goal that you will

speak English at all times.

z Remind yourself that you came to this

country to experience a new culture, to meet

others and to explore your new surroundings.

Relax, take a deep breath and reflect back on

the days before leaving your home country

when you were excited about your new ad-

venture. Try to refocus this former excitement

towards your experience.

Keeping a journal

One way to keep track of emotions and

changes that take place over the year is to

keep a journal. By recording your experiences

and feelings on a regular basis, you will be able

to reduce the impact of culture shock. You will

have a record of your academic and personal

progress to look back on in days and years to

come. Be sure to note changes in:

z Language skills

z School performance and involvement

z Campus/host adjustment

z Individual learning and growth

Keeping a journal will help to remind you that

culture shock is truly a temporary phase

of adjustment.

Bring pictures and Items from home

If you have room in your suitcases for some mu-

sic, a costume, pictures, or some typical crafts, it

would be good to show other students, as well as

to decorate your room to make it seem like home.

We have seen costumes and drums from Korea,

dancing and music from Austria and a piñata and

tortillas from Mexico. Please bring pictures of your

friends, family and surrounding area.

Important telephone numbers

16. EF School CalendarAcademic Year Schedule

The Academic Year is divided into three terms.

(See the applicable start date below for your

program’s specific term and break schedule).

January 2012

Academic Year and Semester Program

Orientation: Fri 6 Jan - Sun 8 Jan

Term 1: Mon 9 Jan - Fri 9 Mar

Holiday: Sat 10 Mar - Sun 25 Mar

Term 2: Mon 26 Mar - Fri 1 Jun

Semester Departure: 2 Jun 2012

Holiday: Sat 2 Jun - Sun 10 Jun

Term 3: (Year) Mon 11 Jun - Fri 17 Aug

Departure: 18 Aug 2012

April 2012


Orientation: Fri 13 Apr - Sun 15 Apr

Term 1: Mon 16 Apr - Fri 1 Jun


Term 2: Mon 11 Jun - Fri 7 Sep

Semester Departure: 8 Sep 2012

Holiday: Sat 8 Sep - Sun 23 Sep

Term 3: (Year) Mon 24 Sep - Fri 30 Nov

Departure: 1 Dec 2012

June 2012


Orientation: Fri 8 Jun - Sun 10 Jun

Term 1: Mon 11 Jun - Fri 7 Sep

Holiday: Sat 8 Sep - Sun 23 Sep

Term 2: Mon 24 Sep - Fri 14 Dec

Semester Departure: 17 Nov 2012

Holiday: Sat 15 Dec - Sun 6 Jan

Term 3: (Year) Mon 7 Jan - Fri 8 Feb

Departure: 9 Feb 2013

September 2012


Orientation: Fri 21 Sep - Sun 23 Sep

Term 1: Mon 24 Sep - Fri 14 Dec

Holiday: Sat 15 Dec - Sun 6 Jan


Semester Departure: 9 Mar 2013


Term 3: (Year) Mon 25 Mar - Fri 31 May

Departure: 1 June 2013

January 2013


Orientation: Fri 4 Jan - Sun 6 Jan



Term 2: Mon 25 Mar - Fri 7 Jun

Semester Departure: 8 Jun 2013


Term 3: (Year) Mon 17 Jun - Fri 16 Aug

Departure: 17 Aug 2013

School holidays

The EF International Language Centers in North

America recognize the following public holidays

when there will be no classes. If your arrival

falls on one of these dates, please check with

the school staff upon your arrival for an exact

orientation schedule.

2012

January 1 - New Year’s Day

February 20 - President’s Day

May 28 - Memorial Day

July 4 - Independence Day

September 3 - Labor Day

November 22 and 23 - Thanksgiving

December 25 - Christmas Day

2013

January 1 - New Year’s Day

February 18 - President’s Day

May 27 - Memorial Day

July 4 - Independence Day

September 2 - Labor Day

November 28 - Thanksgiving

December 25 - Christmas Day

17. Checklist ■ Valid passport (with visa where neces-

sary) It’s a good idea to make copies of

these and pack them in your suitcase

just in case. You don’t need to carry your

passport with you while you are in the

USA but you must keep it and your other

documents in a safe place while you are in

the country.

■ Passport Photos (4) for EF student

identification cards, travel cards and other

possible documents

■ Flight ticket

■ Luggage correctly labeled

■ EF Confirmation letter & other

EF documents

■ Make sure all EF forms are complete,

especially the Health Certificate

■ Medical and travel insurance documents

with proof of insurance in English, if you

have secured Erika Travel Insurance from

EF, you do not need to have anything

translated.

■ Immunization documents with a copy of

them in English

■ Basic medical supplies, any medication

you take regularly and a spare pair of con-

tact lenses or glasses if you wear them.

■ An International Driving License if you are

planning on hiring or buying a car.

■ Local currency for first week and for any

learning materials that are not included in

the cost of the course.

■ Money in the form of an ATM card

(Automatic Transaction Card), credit cards

and/or traveler’s checks (Do NOT bring

large amounts of cash in any currency!).

■ Electric adaptor for any electrical appli-

ances you plan to bring with you.

■ Pencil and/or pen and notebook.

■ Items from your hometown or country so you can share your culture with friends, homestay hosts and teachers.

■ Personal sports equipment.

■ Favorite books, photos and a camera.

■ Bug repellant and sun screen

■ Homestay or student residence details and emergency numbers.

Homestay host’s or student residence name:

________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence address:

________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence telephone number(s):

________________________________________

EF Sales Office telephone number:

________________________________________

EF School telephone number:

________________________________________

EF School emergency telephone number:

+1 404 563 6012________________________________________

Documents

Predeparture Atlanta AYA 2012